Bung for a paper roll

ABSTRACT

The invention consists of a bung for a paper roll, the bung comprised of a core and a plurality of flanges frangibly coupled to the core. Each flange has a number of ridges that serve to anchor the flange to the paper roll. When the bung is inserted into a paper roll, the flanges are decoupled from the core, and serve to hold the core within the paper roll.

FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to support elements for rolls of sheetmaterial, specifically to a bung for insertion into the core of a paperroll.

BACKGROUND

[0002] In paper dispensers, the roll of paper within the dispenser issupported by a piece called a bung. The bung is inserted into the coreof a paper roll and supports the roll within the dispenser whilepermitting rotation of the roll to dispenser paper.

[0003] Generally, a bung can be of various shapes and sizes as long asit fulfills the two-fold task of supporting the roll and allowingrotation. Dowels running the length of the paper roll, small stub-likeextensions from the sides of the dispenser, and variations of thesetypes have all been used in the past.

[0004] It is an object of this invention to provide a bung for a paperroll that is easily inserted into the roll and is meant for use onlywith a single roll.

[0005] It is a further object of this invention to provide a bung thatis dimensioned to restrict the types of paper rolls that can be insertedinto a dispenser.

SUMMARY

[0006] The invention consists of a bung for a paper roll, the bungcomprised of a core and a plurality of flanges frangibly coupled to thecore. Each flange has a number of ridges that serve to anchor the flangeto the paper roll. When the bung is inserted into a paper roll, theflanges are decoupled from the core, and serve to hold the core withinthe paper roll.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The invention itself both as to organization and method ofoperation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, willbecome readily apparent from the following detailed description whenread in connection with the accompanying drawings:

[0008]FIG. 1 shows a bung in an unfolded state;

[0009]FIG. 2 shows a bung in a folded state; and

[0010]FIG. 3 shows a bung inserted in a paper roll.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] A bung 10 for mounting a roll of paper of a similar material isshown in FIG. 1 in its unfolded (open) state. The bung 10 consists of acore 12 with a number of flanges 14 attached by frangible tabs 16 to thecore 12. Each flange 14 has ridges 20 for securing the flange 14 to apaper roll.

[0012]FIG. 2 shows the bung 10 in its folded (closed) state, ready forinsertion into a paper roll. On each flange 14, in addition to ridges20, there is an outer plate 22 and an inner plate 24, designed to stopmovement at the extremities of the flange as described below.

[0013] In operation, the bung 10 is inserted into a roll of paper.First, the flanges 14 are folded down from the open state (FIG. 1) tothe closed state (FIG. 2). Once closed, the bung 10 is inserted into theroll of paper until the outer plates 22 of the respective flangescontact the surface of the roll. Then, the core 12 is pushed to breakthe frangible tabs 16. Inner plates 24 of the flanges prevent the core12 from traveling too far into the roll of paper. FIG. 3 shows a bung 10fully inserted into a roll of paper after frangible tabs 16 have beenbroken.

[0014] At this point, the bung 10 is fully inserted into the paper roll.If core 12 is removed, then the flanges 14 will no longer remain in thepaper roll and will fall out. At that point, the bung 10 cannot bereassembled without significant time and effort. As a result, the bung10 is a single-use item, and must be disposed of (preferably recycled)and a new bung is required for each paper roll.

[0015] It is most likely that the bung 10 will be inserted into thepaper roll at the time of manufacture. If so, the manufacture can gainan additional advantage by shaping the core 12 of the bung 10 to fitonly in a predetermined dispenser. Thus, by designing a dispenser toonly accept a corresponding core 12, the manufacture can limit the typesof paper rolls used in the dispenser, as the bung 10 will not fit into anon-compliant dispenser, nor will noncompliant bungs (and paper rolls)fit into dispenser which is configured for the bung 10.

[0016] Accordingly, while this invention has been described withreference to illustrative embodiments, this description is not intendedto be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of theillustrative embodiments, as well as other embodiments of the invention,will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to thisdescription. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims willcover any such modifications or embodiments as fall within the scope ofthe invention.

We claim:
 1. A bung for a paper roll, comprising: a) a cylindrical core;and b) a plurality of flanges frangibly coupled to said cylindricalcore, each flange in said plurality of flanges having anchor ridges forcontacting said paper roll; wherein, when said bung is inserted intosaid paper roll, said flanges decouple from said cylindrical core andact to hold said cylindrical core within said paper roll.
 2. The bungaccording to claim 1, wherein said cylindrical core has a protruding endshaped so as to be couplable only to a specific dispenser.